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As the leading carbon emission contributor worldwide, the decarbonization of the transport sector has become one of the major climate policy targets globally. Electric mobility is key in reducing local pollutant emissions, particularly in urban centers where air pollution levels are often high. By this, private passenger and light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) are pivotal for the sustainable mobility transition. This doctoral thesis consists of three distinct but interrelated articles, where each article provides a specific perspective on EV driving and EV charging preferences. The first article investigates the determinants of technology acceptance of commercial light-duty EV drivers, by providing the first empirical technology acceptance study on light-duty EVs at the workplace. The second article identifies charging preferences such as charging time or location of EV drivers and the willingness to pay (WTP) for them. The third article, then, transforms these charging preferences into a spatial mapping of the WTP for different attributes of the charging process in relation to the available public charging infrastructure. The findings in this dissertation show some fundamental patterns in the adoption of EVs and accompanying charging infrastructures. This dissertation brings forward essential implications for EV and charging infrastructure policy and planning necessary for an effective EV implementation in the commercial and private EV sector, and thus a sustainable road transport transition from fossil fuels to electrical energy.

Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2021; Aachen : E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University, E.On Energy Research Center ; FCN, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior 101, x, 141 Seiten : Diagramme, Karten (2022). = Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2021, As the leading carbon emission contributor worldwide, the decarbonization of the transport sector has become one of the major climate policy targets globally. Electric mobility is key in reducing local pollutant emissions, particularly in urban centers where air pollution levels are often high. By this, private passenger and light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) are pivotal for the sustainable mobility transition. This doctoral thesis consists of three distinct but interrelated articles, where each article provides a specific perspective on EV driving and EV charging preferences. The first article investigates the determinants of technology acceptance of commercial light-duty EV drivers, by providing the first empirical technology acceptance study on light-duty EVs at the workplace. The second article identifies charging preferences such as charging time or location of EV drivers and the willingness to pay (WTP) for them. The third article, then, transforms these charging preferences into a spatial mapping of the WTP for different attributes of the charging process in relation to the available public charging infrastructure. The findings in this dissertation show some fundamental patterns in the adoption of EVs and accompanying charging infrastructures. This dissertation brings forward essential implications for EV and charging infrastructure policy and planning necessary for an effective EV implementation in the commercial and private EV sector, and thus a sustainable road transport transition from fossil fuels to electrical energy., Published by E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an upcoming procedure in bariatric surgery and is currently performed worldwide. Staple line leakage, as the most frequent and most feared complication, is still a major concern. Methods Since 2005 data from patients undergoing bariatric procedures in Germany have been prospectively registered in an online database and analyzed. All patients who had undergone primary SG within a 7-year period were considered for analysis. Results Using the German Bariatric Surgery Registry, data from more than 11,800 SGs were collected between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2013. Staple line leak rate decreased from 6.5% to 1.4%. Male sex, higher body mass index, concomitant sleep apnea, conversion to laparotomy, longer operation time, a combination of buttresses and oversewing, and the occurrence of intraoperative complications were associated with a significantly higher leakage rate compared with when using either buttresses or oversewing alone. On multivariable analysis, operation time and year of procedure only had a significant impact on staple line leakage rate. Conclusions Owing to the growing experience a constant decrease in the leakage rate after SG has been observed. Staple line disruption may still lead to sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction, and increased mortality. The results of the current study demonstrated that there are factors that increase the risk of leakage and which would enable surgeons to define risk groups, select patients more carefully, and offer closer follow-up during the postoperative course with early recognition and adequate treatment.